Discount Retailer IPO?

Thu, 2012-03-22 15:38

Reuters reports that
Five Below, a value-oriented chain that sells merchandise for teens and pre-teens, might be
getting ready to go public. The chain's owners, Advent International and LLR Partners, have reportedly hired an underwriting team to prepare for an IPO transaction, with a possible valuation of $1 billion.

Five Below has been on a healthy expansion path already, with 50 store openings planned for 2012. But if it goes public, additional pressure from Wall Street might spur it to expand at an even faster pace. The retailer takes spaces between 7,000 sq. ft. and 10,000 sq. ft. Its stores are currently concentrated in Eastern states, including New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Virginia.